Metal strip can opener



Nov. 22, 1966 R. D. WHITEMAN 2,961,120 METAL STRIP CAN OPENER Filed Nov. 13. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Roy D.Whz'Ze man R. D. WHITEMAN METAL STRIP CAN OPENER Nov. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1958 Ill Ill 0 2 E l5 7- RO ,D,W;2,Z'Ze man INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent METAL STRIP CAN OPENER Roy D. Whiteman, Piedmont, Kans. Filed Nov. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 773,711

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to can openers of the crank operated type, designed for removing the thin metal strips used in sealing the covers of certain types of cans in which foods are packaged.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an opener of this character which will wind the sealing strip on the widing shaft of the opener, in an even and regular manner to permit the removal of the sealing strip with facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide an opener of this character which may be held on the edge of a can having its cover sealed by a conventional sealing strip, the opener including a crank operated winding shaft to which the end of the sealing strip to be removed is attached for winding thereon, as the strip is being removed, opening the can.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a crank connected with a vertically slidable strip winding shaft, which shaft is normally biased to its active position by a coiled spring mounted directly above the shaft, the crank being so constructed and arranged that it may be operated to remove the strip wound on the shaft by an upward movement of the shaft within its bearings.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the winding shaft on which the sealing strip is wound is adjustable laterally, adapting the opener for use of cans of various diameters and configurations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and poitned out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the crank operated metal strip can opener, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the winding shaft housing and bearings.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the body portion of the opener is indicated generally by the reference character 5 and comprises a wide plate formed with an elongated opening 6 elongated longitudinally of the body portion, as better shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Extending laterally from the upper edge of the body portion 5 is a flange 7, the flange 7 being disposed at right angles with respect to the side surfaces of the body portion 5. The opposite side edges of the flange 7 are turned inwardly as shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, providing guides 8 in which the annular flange 9 of the vertical spring housing 10 rotates, the construction of the annular flange and guides 8 being such that the spring housing 10 may move longitudinally of the guides, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

The vertical spring housing 10 is in the form of a cylinder with an open side 11 to afford access to the coiled spring 12 mounted therein, the upper end of the coiled spring 12 resting against the inner surface of the upper end of the spring housing, the lower end of said coiled spring being connected to the upper end of the winding shaft 13 which is slidably mounted within an opening formed in the base 14 of the vertical spring housing 10, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The winding shaft 13 also moves longitudinally of the opening 14' elongated longiutdinally of said flange 7 as the sealing strip A is being wound thereon, thereby compensating for the increased diameter caused by the winding of the sealing strip on the shaft 13.

A tubular bearing 15 is formed at one end of the spring arm 16 that is secured to the handle 17 of the opener, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The lower end of the winding shaft 13 is formed with a slot 18, extending upwardly from the end thereof, which slot is so arranged that it will fall opposite to the usual sealing strip of a can, the sealing strip of the present showing being indicated at A.

The reference character 20 indicates the operating handle, which handle has pivotal connection with the upper end of the winding shaft 13, at 19, as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings, the forward end of the handle 20 extending through a vertically elongated opening 2 1 formed in the side wall of the vertical spring housing 10.

Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the spring arm 16 is normally urged outwardly resulting in the body portion 5 being urged against the side of the can being opened, insuring the opener moving to accurately remove the sealing strip.

At the forward end of the body portion 5 is a finger 22 which has its forward edge beveled so that it may be readily inserted under the usual tongue formed at the end of the sealing strip to be removed, permitting the tongue to be extended laterally for positioning in the slotted end of the winding shaft 13. -'In operation, the body portion of the opener is positioned against that portion of the flange 7 indicated at B, resting on the upper surface of the can, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The tongue of the sealing strip is now positioned within the slotted lower end of the winding shaft 13, and the handle 17 is gripped in one hand to hold the opener in position against the can.

The handle 20 is now rotated causing the sealing strip to be wound around the winding shaft 13, the elongated opening 6 providing a clearance for the winding strip which is being wound on the winding shaft 13.

After the winding strip has been completely removed from the can, and is wound on the lower end of the wind ing shaft 13, the handle 20 is now pressed downwardly causing the pivoted end 19 thereof to elevate the winding shaft 13, causing the wound portion of the sealing strip which is coiled around the lower end of the winding shaft 13, to contact the lower end of the tubular bearing 15. It is obvious that with further downward movement of the handle 20, the wound portion of the sealing strip will be forced from the slotted end of the winding shaft, and the opener is now ready for positioning on another can to remove the sealing strip therefrom in opening the can.

In view of the foregoing detail description and drawing, it is believed that further description of the operation of the device is unnecessary.

What 'I claim 'is:

1. An elongated can opener comprisingabody portion in the form of a plate having an elongated opening disposed longitudinally of said body portion, a handle formed atone end of said platefa- 'spring secured at one of its ends to the outer surfae o f said plate and extending longitudinally of saidbody port-ion, said s'pri'n'g arm being laterally offset to 'oornpletely expose said elongated opening, a tubular bearing'fo'rmedaton'e end of said spring arm with its axis extending transversely of and above said opening, a windin'g'shaft mounted "in said bearing for rotation and axial-sliding'movement within said bearing, said shaft having '-a bifurcated end normally lying opposite to said elongated opening, said bifurcated end being adapted to receive one end drawn sealing strip extended through'said elongated opening and wound on said shaft, and a handle for effecting rotation of said shaft winding said sealing's trip thereon.

2. A can opener comprising a body portion'in the form of an elongated plate having an opening elongated longitudinally of said body portion, a handle formed at one end of said plate, a spring arm connected atone of it's ends to the outer surface of said plate adjacent "to said handle, the opposite end of said spring armbeing laterally ofiset relative to said elongated opening to completely expose the same, a tubular bearing formed at the free end of said spring arm with its axis extending transversely of and above said opening, a winding shaft mounted for rotation within said bearing member, said winding shaft having a bifurcated end extending a substantial distance beyond said tubular bearing and in overlying relation to said elongated opening in which the end of a sealing strip may be secured and, the sealing strip may pass through said elongated openingof the body and be wound on said "shaft, an operating handle pivotally connected to said shaft for effecting rotation of said winding shaft within said bearing, and said'winding shaft being axially 'slidable within said bearing "whereby a sealing strip wound on said shaft will'contact the end of said tubular bearing stripping 'saidsealing strip from said shaft when said shaft is moved along its axis in a direction away from the elongated opening.

References Cited in the file ofthis lpatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

